December 28, 2023 Columns by Benjamin Hofmeister This New Year’s, I resolve to express more gratitude ā just not for MS The new year is nearly upon us, so if you’re planning to make any resolutions, you should probably narrow down the list. As I said last year, I’m not in the habit of making any, but I did resolve to foster a sense of hope. I still have what…
November 17, 2023 Columns by Ed Tobias What I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving It wasn’t a good morning. I was dragging my cement-pillar legs around the kitchen and grew frustrated as I lurched from the refrigerator to the counter to feed the cat and the dog. I’d propped my two canes against the counter, but they’d slid to the floor ā not once,…
July 7, 2022 Columns by Benjamin Hofmeister The MS Paradox Results in Many Conflicting Feelings āThanks, I hate it.ā Odd way to begin a column, I know. I suppose Iād better explain myself. That phrase regularly appears in memes and other pop culture media as an expression of dislike for an image or tweet. No one seems to know where or from whom it…
December 1, 2021 Columns by Beth Ullah I’m Climbing the Hills of Adversity, Just Not in Heels āShoes are the quickest way for women to achieve instant metamorphosis.ā ā Manolo Blahnik As the holidays approach, I’m reminded to be thankful for what I have. I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) at 26 years old, and when I became paralyzed, I thought I’d never…
October 29, 2021 Columns by Jamie Hughes No Wasted Moments A friend of mine recently recommended a book to me by the multitalented Brian Doyle called āOne Long River of Song.ā Doyle, a devout Catholic (though I donāt think you need to be a Christian to appreciate his writing), was an award-winning essayist, poet, and novelist with more than…
March 9, 2021 Columns by Jessie Ace On Difficult Days With MS, Try Shifting Your Focus to Gratitude We often focus on what we donāt have rather than what we do. This doesnāt just apply to our relationships, but to everything: our carers, our careers, our children, our homes, our cars, etc.Ā I often hear people wishing they had more:Ā āI wish…
February 5, 2021 Columns by Jamie Hughes A Catalogue of Tiny Gratitudes I know quite a few of you are dealing with copious amounts of snow right now, but there is not a speck of white stuff on the ground where I live in Atlanta. And for that, I am grateful. Why? Because I do not like snow. I do not like…
December 3, 2020 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Reflecting on a Year of Blessings in My Life With SPMS The holiday season has always been a time of reflection. The year passes by in a montage of memories. I am reminded of the past 11 months. The highs and the lows. My hopes and my aspirations. Those lives that have been lost and those that have just begun.
November 20, 2020 Columns by Jamie Hughes On Being Truly Thankful Well, friends, we are coming to the end of 2020. Thanksgiving is next week, and believe it or not, Christmas is just around the corner. And while I canāt say Iām grateful for all the challenges this very weird and wacky year has presented me with, I remain so for…
December 5, 2019 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Thankful Awakening: Accepting Change with SPMS My happiness quotient correlates with my ability to give. I find tremendous satisfaction in doing this. This is one reason that I cherish Thanksgiving. I derive immense pleasure in creating this symbolic meal for those I love. For a subpar cook, I knock the socks off the classic Thanksgiving…
September 5, 2019 Columns by Tamara Sellman Need to Know: Expanding Your MS Symptom Journal Editor’s note: “Need to Knowā is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum.Ā This week’s question is inspired by the forum topicĀ “How do you feel about journaling? Itās a good way to keep track of…
January 24, 2019 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell I Make Myself OK: Musings with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Not everyone is going to get it. And by “it” I mean our disease and the way it affects our lives. Few understand our limitations or the ramifications of pushing past them. Many people are perplexed when, having witnessed our smiles and strength, they see us suffering. Others…
December 6, 2018 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Receiving with Grace: Lessons Learned with Secondary Progressive MS In this season of thanks and giving, I have realized the beauty of receiving. I have recognized when to ask for help and how to accept assistance graciously. This has not been my strong suit in the past. I am most at ease with myself when I am of service…
February 27, 2018 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson The Sun Shall Rise I had the flu for several days, and it was disastrous. So, I did not write last week. I hope you missed the column as much as I missed writing it and hearing from you. Several of my friends have the flu as well. This is an awful…
December 25, 2017 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson My ABCs of Gratitude: Reflections of an MS Warrior (Continued) In last weekās column, I shared what I called my ABCs of gratitude. In the past few days, Iāve had to revisit my list several times. This was a distressing week. Even more perplexing is my inability to determine the exact cause of my anguish. I could not…
December 15, 2017 Columns by Jamie Hughes The Greatest Gifts Christmas is just around the corner, and thatās why many people are on the fruitless quest for Fingerlings or hocking an organ to buy the new iPhone. Both might be the āhotā presents of the season, but neither of them holds a candle to the great gifts we…
December 12, 2017 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson My ABCs of Gratitude: Reflections of an MS Warrior Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful; a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. By definition, we can infer that, in addition to it being a quality, it is also an act. Gratitude is not an exact science, it takes practice, development, participation and…
November 30, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Gratitude Is Calling. Don’t Let MS Stop You from Answering I find it incredibly ironic that the day after we pause to give thanks for whom and for what we have, we are breaking down doors and fighting one another in the name of Black Friday. While easy to proclaim in the fervency of the season among family…
August 23, 2017 Columns by Judy Lynn Building Toward Optimism: The ‘Tetris’ Effect In the video game “Tetris,” players fit falling puzzle pieces together in order to create the most complete picture. As the game continues, the pieces fall faster. Creating order and cohesion out of chaos is necessary, as it is a common human desire. I never liked “Tetris,” but…
June 28, 2017 Columns by Judy Lynn Can You Cultivate Happiness as a Habit? Last week, I shared details ofĀ Everyday Matters,Ā a program by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This self-directed, multi-week program uses the principles of positive psychology. The readings, lessons, and exercises need not be completed in a particular order, but I am going to start my exploration of…
February 23, 2017 Columns by admin MS is No Excuse for Being Discourteous When Offered Help It was a trip, plain and simple, neither my leg giving way nor a fall. It was MS-related because it was directly caused by foot drop; the toe of my left shoe caught on the tiniest ridge at the bottom of…